Pennsylvania Green-Lights First Cannabis Grow Facility

Pennsylvania finally got the green-light to begin medical marijuana production at the state’s first cannabis grow facility. A year ago, Pennsylvania became the 24th medical marijuana state in the United States. The state’s Department of Health sorted through applications to pick dispensaries. Now, the first cannabis grow facility to receive approval for production has been chosen.

Pennsylvania Gets First Cannabis Grow Facility

On top of a grow facility, the company has the state’s approval to build dispensaries. The company intends to place the dispensaries in Butler County, in Pittsburgh’s strip district and another yet to be disclosed location.

The company’s facility had to make it through several inspections before receiving the state’s final approval to begin growing weed plants. The medicine will be grown in the Jefferson County borough of Brookville, Pennsylvania.

Construction of the 40,000-square-foot grow facility began as soon as Cresco received its permit. A full grow cycle takes about 120 days. So, the product won’t hit shelves until about February.

“In the coming weeks, we expect the 11 other grower/processors to be ready to grow and process medical marijuana,” said Rachel Levine, the state’s acting health secretary, in a statement. “We are working with them, as well as the dispensaries, to ensure the program stays on track. Patients are our first priority, and we want to get medication to them as safely and efficiently as possible.”

All of the state’s medical marijuana businesses, including Cresco, participate in the “seed-to-sale” tracking system. All cannabis products will be followed from cultivation to the end sale, to prevent any of the material from being sold on the black market.

Cresco Starts State’s First MMJ Media Campaign

Cresco is fully invested into medical marijuana for Pennsylvania patients.

In fact, the company spent nearly a half a million dollars on a medical marijuana ad campaign called “Welcome to a State of Relief.” The media campaign will be in newspapers, magazines, billboards and on social media platforms.

Why has Cresco begun advertising before the first growing facility in Pennsylvania received the approval to begin production?

Cresco Lab’s CEO Charlie Bachtell said, “It’s not too early because this is not a product-focused campaign. It’s to let people know about the program.”

Their campaign aims to educate patients on whether or not medical marijuana is the right treatment for them. A second purpose is to convince medical professionals to sign up for the registry process. That way they can recommend cannabis to patients.